|
1 | But Job answered and said, |
|
2 | Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. |
|
3 | Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock
on. |
|
4 | As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why
should not my spirit be troubled? |
|
5 | Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. |
|
6 | Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on
my flesh. |
|
7 | Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in
power? |
|
8 | Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their
offspring before their eyes. |
|
9 | Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God
upon them. |
|
10 | Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and
casteth not her calf. |
|
11 | They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their
children dance. |
|
12 | They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of
the organ. |
|
13 | They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to
the grave. |
|
14 | Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not
the knowledge of thy ways. |
|
15 | What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what
profit should we have, if we pray unto him? |
|
16 | Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked
is far from me. |
|
17 | How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft
cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows
in his anger. |
|
18 | They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the
storm carrieth away. |
|
19 | God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him,
and he shall know it. |
|
20 | His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the
wrath of the Almighty. |
|
21 | For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the
number of his months is cut off in the midst? |
|
22 | Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that
are high. |
|
23 | One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and
quiet. |
|
24 | His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with
marrow. |
|
25 | And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never
eateth with pleasure. |
|
26 | They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall
cover them. |
|
27 | Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye
wrongfully imagine against me. |
|
28 | For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are
the dwelling places of the wicked? |
|
29 | Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know
their tokens, |
|
30 | That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they
shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. |
|
31 | Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him
what he hath done? |
|
32 | Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the
tomb. |
|
33 | The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man
shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. |
|
34 | How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there
remaineth falsehood? |
|
|